TF2Maps offers playtesting sessions called “Map Tests”. These sessions are invaluable for getting feedback on your map, so you can use it to improve your maps. This guide will walk you through preparing your map for a playtest session, using “Mecha Engineer” to queue it for a Map Test, and how to find the feedback that players leave on your map.
1. Before you upload
Before uploading your map to our site for a playtest, you need to make sure it is in a playable state. You can use this checklist to make sure everything in your map is working correctly. Read this for requirements on having a map tested here.
2. Uploading your map
Getting your map uploaded to our website is a very simple process:
*Threads are not created for Mann VS Machine Population files. They are still accessible from the Downloads page.
3. TF2Maps Bot and you, how to use it
To get your map onto a Map Test, you have to submit it to a bot we call Mecha Engineer. Mecha Engineer handles the map list that hosts will use for Imps, and notifies users when their map is played on a Map Test. To use Mecha Engineer, you'll have to join our Discord server.
If you're already in/once you're in the server, you can use Mecha Engineer by entering the #bot channel and use these primary commands for adding or managing maps on TF2M Bot's map list:
/maps - Gives current list of maps in the queue, also links to the website
/add - <url> <notes> - Adds a map to the queue.
/update - <map name> <new url> <new notes> - Updates a map in the queue.
/delete - <map name> - Deletes a map from the queue.
/uploadcheck - <filename> - Checks if a map is uploaded to EU, US, and the redirect.
Once you add your map to the map list, all you need to do is wait for a Map Test to start! Map Tests are ran by community members and occasionally by Server Mods or Staff members. They are entirely impromptu, so stick around in our general chatrooms to see when one is about to start!
4. Feedback: where to find it, how to use it, how to watch it
Our servers feature a unique plugin that allows players to leave text feedback about the map. This feedback is stored on a webpage that you can access any time via the Feedback Page. The Feedback Page is sorted by most recently newly played maps. Once you're notified that your map is being played, you can load up the page for your map and see the feedback is there. Each page is updated in real time, so there's no need for refreshing to see new feedback!
Sometimes you'll receive feedback that has coordinates attached to it.
This is location feedback, and is useful for players to quickly reference areas without having to get too specific on where it is. You're given two coordinates, one for what the player is looking at, and one for where they're standing. These coordinates can be plugged into Hammer using the Go to Coordinates tool in the View tab. Location feedback is incredibly useful for finding smaller issues, such as clipping, potential sightlines, or dark areas.
Additionally, a demo is also recorded during a playtest. The demos recorded allow you to view a session as if you were a spectator, with text chat and voice chat being recorded as well. Demos are invaluable for analyzing how players are playing and allows you to give your own insight and context to feedback given. The demos for your map are stored alongside the other information on the map's feedback page.
To view demos ingame, download and place the .dem file you get into your Team Fortress 2/tf/ folder. Once ingame, you can load the demo by using one of these commands or key binds:
When updating your map, the first thing you'll want to do is to increment the version string. Once it's ready to upload, you'll want to head to your map's Overview page and click on the "Post Download Update" button. Fill in the relevant information, upload your new version, and don't forget to change the version string on the site to the one on the map!**
**If you're updating a resource that does not traditionally use version strings, such as an MvM Population File or Prefab, you can just use a dummy version string instead. Such as V1/V2/V3.
And that should cover uploading, TF2M Bot, and feedback. If you have any questions about the content in this guide, go ahead and post a message in this thread. If you have questions about something else on the site, I would recommend you make a thread in the Site Discussion subforum.
15/8/2019: As of writing, VBot has been entirely replaced with TF2Maps Bot, functionality is almost the same, so this guide has been slightly edited to reference TF2Maps Bot instead of VBot.
8/6/2021: Hi all, nesman here. Star retired a while ago and we have another new bot now, Mecha Engineer, so I updated the extensive guide they wrote. See this post for the new Bot feedback.
1. Before you upload
Before uploading your map to our site for a playtest, you need to make sure it is in a playable state. You can use this checklist to make sure everything in your map is working correctly. Read this for requirements on having a map tested here.
2. Uploading your map
Getting your map uploaded to our website is a very simple process:
- Click on the blue "Add Download" button on the Downloads page.
- Select the appropriate Category for your submission.
- Fill out the appropriate information. The Tags, Steam Workshop Link, and Additional Information URL fields are optional.
- Hit save!
*Threads are not created for Mann VS Machine Population files. They are still accessible from the Downloads page.
3. TF2Maps Bot and you, how to use it
To get your map onto a Map Test, you have to submit it to a bot we call Mecha Engineer. Mecha Engineer handles the map list that hosts will use for Imps, and notifies users when their map is played on a Map Test. To use Mecha Engineer, you'll have to join our Discord server.
If you're already in/once you're in the server, you can use Mecha Engineer by entering the #bot channel and use these primary commands for adding or managing maps on TF2M Bot's map list:
/maps - Gives current list of maps in the queue, also links to the website
/add - <url> <notes> - Adds a map to the queue.
/update - <map name> <new url> <new notes> - Updates a map in the queue.
/delete - <map name> - Deletes a map from the queue.
/uploadcheck - <filename> - Checks if a map is uploaded to EU, US, and the redirect.
- Note: Do not include the brackets when sending your message, more commands can be found at bot.tf2maps.net/commands.php. The above commands can also be found in the pinned messages in the #bot channel.
- Second Note: If your map is considered a "joke" or "april fools" map you need to specify that in the notes.
- Note about notes: If you specify in your notes "don't play without me" and more than a week passes. Hosts can play your map.
Once you add your map to the map list, all you need to do is wait for a Map Test to start! Map Tests are ran by community members and occasionally by Server Mods or Staff members. They are entirely impromptu, so stick around in our general chatrooms to see when one is about to start!
4. Feedback: where to find it, how to use it, how to watch it
Our servers feature a unique plugin that allows players to leave text feedback about the map. This feedback is stored on a webpage that you can access any time via the Feedback Page. The Feedback Page is sorted by most recently newly played maps. Once you're notified that your map is being played, you can load up the page for your map and see the feedback is there. Each page is updated in real time, so there's no need for refreshing to see new feedback!
Sometimes you'll receive feedback that has coordinates attached to it.
This is location feedback, and is useful for players to quickly reference areas without having to get too specific on where it is. You're given two coordinates, one for what the player is looking at, and one for where they're standing. These coordinates can be plugged into Hammer using the Go to Coordinates tool in the View tab. Location feedback is incredibly useful for finding smaller issues, such as clipping, potential sightlines, or dark areas.
Additionally, a demo is also recorded during a playtest. The demos recorded allow you to view a session as if you were a spectator, with text chat and voice chat being recorded as well. Demos are invaluable for analyzing how players are playing and allows you to give your own insight and context to feedback given. The demos for your map are stored alongside the other information on the map's feedback page.
To view demos ingame, download and place the .dem file you get into your Team Fortress 2/tf/ folder. Once ingame, you can load the demo by using one of these commands or key binds:
- playdemo <demo filename> - Directly loads the demo file you put in here, the game will list off demos it could load if you just put in playdemo first.
- demoui2 - A UI window that allows you to pause, play, skip ahead, and change the speed of demos. Also has a Load button that opens up a file browser for you to find your demo in.
- Shift + f2 - The keybinds for demoui.
When updating your map, the first thing you'll want to do is to increment the version string. Once it's ready to upload, you'll want to head to your map's Overview page and click on the "Post Download Update" button. Fill in the relevant information, upload your new version, and don't forget to change the version string on the site to the one on the map!**
**If you're updating a resource that does not traditionally use version strings, such as an MvM Population File or Prefab, you can just use a dummy version string instead. Such as V1/V2/V3.
And that should cover uploading, TF2M Bot, and feedback. If you have any questions about the content in this guide, go ahead and post a message in this thread. If you have questions about something else on the site, I would recommend you make a thread in the Site Discussion subforum.
15/8/2019: As of writing, VBot has been entirely replaced with TF2Maps Bot, functionality is almost the same, so this guide has been slightly edited to reference TF2Maps Bot instead of VBot.
8/6/2021: Hi all, nesman here. Star retired a while ago and we have another new bot now, Mecha Engineer, so I updated the extensive guide they wrote. See this post for the new Bot feedback.
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